Door lock



Aug. 22, 1961 D. R. WOLFSLAYER DOOR LOCK 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 3, 1958 NVENTOR.

dje) Aug. 22, 1961 D. R. WOLFSLAYER DOOR LOCK 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 3, 1958 IN VENTOR.

Z MM l uwB m z N M 7 T 4 Aug. 22, 1961 D. R. WOLFSLAYER DOOR LOCK 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 3, 1958 INVENTOR. J0 774/] if l lz/f/dyer nmm Mi Mic 1961 D. R. WOLFSLAYER 2,997,324

DOOR LOCK Filed Nov. 3, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR. 2707147? i l lifs' dzcvf E WWW United States Patent C 2,997,324 DOOR LOCK Donald R. Wolfslayer, Birmingham, Mich., assignor to Chrysler Corporation, Highland Park, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 3,1958, Ser. No. 771,387 '13 Claims. (Cl. 292-280) This invention relates to an improved latching mechanism for vehicle doors.

It is a particular object of this invention to provide a latch mechanism having the component parts thereof arranged in an advantageous fashion both with respect to the size of the latch mechanism and the shape thereof so that it is particularly adapted for reception in the limited space available within the door adjacent the edge of the conventional vehicle door glass. My latch mechanism has a generally channel shape when viewed in plan view and a minimum thickness of the latching mechanism is presented at the base of the channel while the legs of the channel respectively accommodate outside and inside operated elements of the latching mechanism. Thus the latch mechanism is adapted to straddle an edge of the glass so that a maximum portion of the length of the door may be occupied by the glass.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a latching mechanism of a minimum heighth. This is particularly important in connection with rear door installations where the amount of available door surface in a conventional automobile is limited due to the presence of a wheel housing.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a latching mechanism that is inherently adapted to be operated by compression linkage extending between the latching mechanism and an outside operating handle. By this it is meant that the linkage referred to is pushed downwardly rather than lifted upwardly by the outside operating handle and the latch is adapted to utilize such motion without the necessity of interposing motion translating mechanism between the latch and the aforementioned linkage.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide a latching mechanism that can be readily adjusted to compensate for variations in the manufacturing tolerances of door panels and linkage with which it is associated and to provide the tool receiving means for making such an adjustment on the end face of the door where it is readily accessible without the necessity of disassembling any of the components of the latch or the door.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view through a portion of an automobile body showing the latching mechanism and its remote controls as they appear in the vehicle door;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the door showing the relationship of a front door latching mechanism and its outside operating controls with the latch shown in its latched and unlocked condition;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 2 but showing a front door latch in its latch released condition;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a front door latch similar to FIG. 3 but showing the latch in a locked condition;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a rear door latch show ing it in latched and unlocked condition;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a rear door latch similar to FIG. 5 showing it in the condition of being unlatched due to manipulation of the inside operating handle;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 6 showing a rear door latch in its locked and latched condition;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a front door latch which is similar to FIG. 4 but illustrating a modified construction of the locking lever on the outer flange of the supporting structure;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a modified door latch having an adjustable feature and showing such latch in its relative position in the vehicle door;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the inside of the door latch illustrated in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a front view of the outside of the door latch of FIGS. 9 and 10;

FIG. 12 is an end elevation of the latch illustrated in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a section taken on the line 13-13 of FIG.

FIG. 14 is a section taken on the line 14--14 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 14 showing the'latch mechanism in its locked condition; and

FIG. 16 is a section taken on the line 16--16 of FIG. 13.

Referring to the drawings I have shown a portion of the side wall of an automobile body 10 and a door 12 hinged at 14 to one side of the body 10. The latching mechanism is illustrated at 16 and is operative to selectively obstruct motion of a rotary bolt 18. The rotary bolt 18 cooperates with a keeper 20 in accordance with conventional practice and an outside handle mechanism 22 is operatively connected to the latching mechanism by means to be described herein while an inside operating handle 24 is connected to the latching mechanism by means of a link 26. It should be noted that the area usually occupied by a window glass is illustrated in dotted lines designated by the numeral 28. The door 12 includes an outer panel 30, an inner panel 32 and an end wall 34 and it should be noted that the space between the glass position 28 and the end wall 34 is critical and that my door latch has a generally U-shape presenting a minimum of thickness between end wall 34 and the glass position 28 with the legs of the U straddling the door glass position 28.

Referring to FIG. 2 it will be seen that the outside handle mechanism 22 includes a stationary frame 36 and a pair of pivotally mounted levers 38 and 40 which are connected to a hand grip 41 and are adapted to be pivoted in a clockwise direction in response to a pull on the hand grip 41. The lever 40 includes an extension 42 to which a compression rod 44 is secured so that upon actuation of the outside handle mechanism to effect entrance to the vehicle the compression rod 44 will be moved in a downward direction in FIG. 2. The outside handle mechanism 22 includes a conventional lock cylinder 46 which is adapted to selectively elevate and depress a rod 48 to efiect a locking and unlocking of the door.

The latching mechanism 16 ;is illustrated in FIG. 2 as including a U-shaped supporting structure having avplate portion 50, an inner flange 52 and an outer flange 54. A ratchet 56 is pivotally mounted on the plate portion and in accordance with conventional practice is keyed to the rotary bolt 18, it being understood that when the door is closed and the ratchet 56 is obstructed from'motion in one direction the rotary bolt 18 will be immovable in that direction relative to the keeper 20. It is necessary, of course, that the ratchet 56 be capable of rotating in the other direction or counterclockwise direction in- FIG. 2 to accommodate closing of the door. The general operation of such latch devices is well-known III the art and reference may be made to Marple et al. Patent 2,249,018 for a further description thereof.

In order to selectively obstruct movement of the ratchet 56 a detent 58 is pivotally mounted at 60 on the plate portion 50 and provided with an abutment 62 operable to engage the ratchet 56 to obstruct movement thereof ina clockwise direction in FIG. 2. It should be noted that 3 the abutment 62 and outer periphery of the ratchet 56 are so shaped as to accommodate rotation of the ratchet 56 in a counterclockwise direction by forcing the detent '58 to pivot upwardly. The detent 58 extends transversely of plate portion 50 and has end portions in proximity with both the inner flange 52 and outer flange 54.

It will thus be seen that if the operator can pivotally move the detent in a clockwise direction about its pivot 60 the ratchet 56 will be free and the door may be opened.

In order to accomplish this a lever 64 is pivoted at 66 on the lower portion of the outer flange 54 and a link 68 is pivotally mounted on the inner end of lever 64. The

hand grip 41 which will effect a downward movement of the compression rod 44. A similar movement of the lever 58 may be effected by manipulation of the inside operating handle 24 which will effectively move link 26 to the left in FIGS. 1 and 2. Link 26 is connected to the lower leg of a bell crank 72 which has its other leg lying immediately above a portion of the detent 58 on the right side of the pivot 60 in FIG. 2 such that movement of link 26 to the left will effect a clockwise rotation of hell crank 72 and a clockwise rotation of the detent 58 thereby freeing the ratchet 56. Reference may be made to FIG. 3 to show the parts in this condition.

The latching device to be described herein is of the free wheeling type rather than the blocking type such that when the door is locked the outside hand grip 41 is effectively disconnected from the latching mechanism so that it is inoperative rather than that its motion is blocked. To effect the locking of the outside hand grip 4-1 means are provided for pivoting the link 68 in a counterclockwise direction in FIG. 2 until the tooth 70 no longer is in registry with the detent 58. Reference may be made to FIG. 4 in which it will be seen that rod 48 has been lifted by operation of the lock cylinder 46 and a locking lever 74 which is pivotally mounted at 76 and has a pair of legs 78 and 80 which straddle the link 68 has been pivoted in a clockwise direction. This movement of lever previously mentioned compression rod 44 is connected to 74 pivots link '68 in a counterclockwise direction to effect a locking of the latch.

In order to effect a similar locking of the latch by manipulation of the inside operating handle 24 a link i 82 is pivotally mounted at 84. The link 82 extends transversely of the plate portion above the detent 58 and it has one leg 86 that is received between a pair of bifurcations 88 and 90 of locking lever 74. The link 82 has another leg 92 which extends to the inner flange 52 and is positioned immediately above a portion of hell crank 72 so that if instead of pulling on the link 26 as mentioned above for unlatching of the door the operator pushes on link 26 in FIG. 2 the bell crank 72 will be rotated in a counterclockwise direction and the link 82 will be pivoted in a counterclockwise direction thereby rotating the locking lever 74 and link 68 to effect a locking of the door latching mechanism.

' A tab 94 is carried by the link 82 and located immediately above the detent 58. The tab 94 is provided to efiect a kick off of the lock in the event that the door is slammed while it is in its locked condition. Referring to FIG. 4 which illustrates the latching mechanism in its latched position it will be seen that when the latch device 56 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction as an incident to slamming the door at raising of the detent 58 will occur as abutment 62 rides over the surface of a tooth on ratchet 56. As detent 58 rises it engages and lifts tab 94 and the link 82 from its FIG. 4 position to its FIG. 3 position thereby rotating locking lever 74 and restoring link 68 to its unlocked or operative condition with tooth 70 in registry with the detent 58.

The latch mechanism heretofore described in connection with FIGS. 1 through 4 is a mechanism particularly adapted for use on the front door of a vehicle in which it is customary to provide a key cylinder for locking and unlocking the door from the exterior and in which it is customary to lock the door from the interior by manipulating the inside operating handle 24. In FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 a companion rear door latch is illustrated. This latch is generally similar to the front door latch previously described except that it is of the type having no external locking means and it is particularly adapted for association with a door in which a manually operable control (not illustrated) is provided for locking the door from the interior. When locked from the interior the outside handle is rendered inoperative such that it can be moved, but its motion will not be translated through the mechanism to effect an unlatching of the door. This resembles the performance of the FIGS. 1 through 4 device heretofore described. Operation of the inside handle is, however, blocked. Referring to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 it will be seen that certain parts are substantially identical in the rear door latching mechanism and in the front door latching mechanism. I refer to the compression rod 44, the plate portion 50 with its inner flange 52 and its outer flange 54, the ratchet 56, the lever 64 which is pivoted at 66 and link 68 with its tooth 70, the detent 58 and the link 26 which extends from the inside operating handle.

A locking lever 74' is mounted on the outer flange at 76 and this locking lever is in all respects similar to the locking lever 74 of the front door latching mechanism with the exception that it lacks a connection to a rod 48 leading to a lock cylinder 46 as in FIGURES 1 through 4. A link 82' is provided on the plate portion 50 and is pivotally mounted at 84. This resembles the link 82 of the front door mechanism except that the tab 94 which serves to kick off the front door lock when the door is slammed is omitted so that if the locking condition is once established and the door is slammed it will stay in locked condition. A bell crank 98 is pivotally mounted on the inner flange and generally resembles the bell crank 72 previously described in connection with the front door latching mechanism with the exception that a supplemental leg 100 is provided thereon. A locking lever 102 is pivotally mounted at 104 on the inner flange 52. This locking lever 102 includes a pair of legs 106 and 108 which straddle one end of the link 82'. A link 110 is connected to the locking lever 102 and is adapted to effect pivotal movement thereof in response to pulling or pushing on the link 11!). The locking lever 102 also carries a leg 112 which is adapted to position itself in front of the supplemental leg 100 of the bell crank 98 when the latching mechanism is in locked condition as illustrated in FIG. 7. This obstructs pivotal movement of hell crank 98 and renders the inside operating handle inoperative to pivot bell crank 98 and the detent 58.

In FIG. 5 the rear door latchng mechanism is illustrated in its latched, but unlocked condition and manipulation of either the compression rod 44 or the link 26 will effect an unlatching of the door by causing pivotal movement of detent 58 in a clockwise direction about its pivot 60. FIG. 6 illustrates the positions the parts would assume if the door was unlatched by pulling on link 26. FIG. 7 illustrates the position the parts would assume if one pulls on link 110 to effect a locking of the latching mechanism. It should be noted that the link 68 has been pivoted so that its tooth 70 is no longer positioned below the detent 58 and manipulatior of the compression rod 44 from the outside would be ineffective to unlatch the door. Similarly, the locking lever 102 has been pivoted so that its leg 112 now ob structs pivotal movement of hell crank 98 thereby rcn dering manipulation of link 26 from the inside impossible In FIG. 8 a modified locking lever is illustrated on the outer flange 54. This locking lever constitutes an improvement over the locking lever 74 illustrated in FIGS. 2 through 4. FIG. 8 illustrates a front door latching mechanism and it is otherwise similar to FIG. 4. Referring, however, to the locking lever illustrated in FIG. 8 and designated by the numeral 114 it will be seen that instead of carrying a rigid leg 88 (as in FIG. 4) a leaf spring 116 is provided and secured to the body of the locking lever 114. The advantage of the leaf spring 116 will be understood if one considers that the latching mechanism as illustrated in FIG. 8 is in its locked condition with the link 68 pivoted so that its tooth 70 is not aligned with the detent 58. If, however, the door was slammed while the operator was holding on to the hand grip 41 and forcing compression rod 44 downwardly it will be evident that the ratchet 56 will be forcibly rotated in a counterclockwise direction due to engagement of rotary bolt 18 with keeper 20. This rotation of ratchet 56 will pivot detent 58 and apply an upward force on tab 94 of the link 82 which in turn will attempt to pivot the locking lever 114 in a counterclockwise direction to restore link 68 to its operative position. If, however, at this time the downward pressure applied by the operator to compression rod 44 has elevated the tooth 70 above the lower edge of the detent 58 it will be seen that clockwise pivoting of link 68 which is being initiated by interference between tab 94 and detent 58 will be prevented by a lateral collision between tooth 70 and the detent 58. Under these circumstances the latching mechanism illustrated in FIG. 4 would undoubtedly be broken. The spring 116 of FIG. 8 will permit a temporary relief so that no parts will be broken due to the inability of link 68 to pivot clockwise as described above.

Referring briefly to FIGS. 9 through 16 it may be pointed out that the latching mechanism illustrated therein will be dealt with separately and includes parts corresponding to the parts previously discussed. Attention is invited to the fact, however, that instead of using a leaf spring 116 as in FIG. 8 a modified link 268 is illustrated. In this modified form a tooth 270 is pivotally mounted relative to the link 268 and a spring 278 reacts between the link 268 and tooth 270 to accomplish the same purpose as the spring 116 of FIG- URE 8. Thus if circumstances attempt to pivot the link 268 of FIGS. 14 and 15 to the right while the tooth 270 is elevated above the lower edge of the detent 258 the tooth 270 will be able to collapse and thereby serve the same purpose as above described in connection with leaf spring 116.

FIGS. 9 through 16 illustrate a latching mechanism embodying the features described above in connection with the front door latching mechanism of FIGS. 2 through 4. They are illustrated, however, in a form more nearly adapted for production and the latching mechanism shown therein includes an adjustment feature.

Referring to FIGS. 9 through 16 the supporting plate has a U-shape and includes a plate portion 250 having an inner flange 252 and an outer flange 254. A ratchet 256 is pivotally mounted on the plate portion 250 and connected to a conventional rotary bolt 218 while a detent 258 is pivotally mounted at 260 on plate portion 250 and urged in a counterclockwise direction in FIG. 13 by a spring 261. A bell crank 272 is pivotally mounted on the inner flange 252 while a link 282 is pivotally mounted at 284 on the plate portion 250 and carries a tab 294 for the purpose described in connection with the tab 94 of FIGS. 2 through 4.

A lever 264 is pivotally mounted at 266 and carries a link 268 having a tooth element 270 pivotally mounted thereon at 271 and urged in a clockwise direction in FIG. 15 by a spring 278 for the reasons described above. A tab 279 on tooth element 270 limits the clockwise rotation of tooth element 270 while a locking lever 274 is pivotally mounted on an outer flange 254 and provided with bifurcations 288 and 290 which straddle the detent 282. The locking lever 274 instead of having the legs 78 and 80 illustrated in FIGS. 2 through 4 has a laterally oflset flange 291 which is slotted to receive the upper end of link 268. An over center spring 293 urges locking lever 274 towards its two extreme positions of positioning link 268 in its operative or its inoperative station.

While FIGS. 2 through 4 illustrate the rod 48 extending from the locking cylinder 46 to the locking lever 74 it should be noted that a similar result is accomplished by providing a place for attachment of the rod 48 on an end portion of link 282. The operation of the lock referred to herein is similar to that previously described in connection with FIGS. 2 through 4 and FIG. 8.

The adjustment feature to which reference has been indirectly made herein is illustrated in FIGS. 9 through 16 and referring to FIG. 9 it will be seen that between the outside operating handle 22 and the actual engagement of tooth element 270 with detent 258 there are a number of factors which could necessitate an adjustment. For example, in manufacturing practices tolerances accumulate in the fabrication of door panels, links and hardware components such that it would be desirable if a final adjustment could be made after assembly of all of the components. To this end the plate portion 250 of the latching mechanism is provided with a laterally extending ear 300 which is apertured at 302 for penetration by an adjusting bolt 304. An adjusting plate 306 having a base portion 308 and a flange portion 310 is assembled on the outer flange 254 and ear 300 with the flange portion 310 threaded to receive the adjusting bolt 304. The aperture 302 in car 300 is elongated so that vertical adjustment of the adjusting plate 306 may be accomplished by loosening the adjusting bolt 304. The pivotal mounting at 266 of the lever 264 is made on the adjusting plate 306 so that adjustment of the adjusting plate effects a vertical adjustment of the pivot point 266 in FIGS. 14 and 15. The outer flange 254 is apertured at 312 to accommodate the vertical adjustment of the pivot 266. In addition, the outer flange 254 carries an inwardly extending tab 314 and a spring 316 reacts upon lever 264 and the adjusting plate 306 to urge the lever 264 in a clockwise direction about its pivot 266 and into abutting relationship with the tab 314. It should also be noted that the lowermost or latched position of detent 258 is predetermined by the bottom of a slot 315 in flange 254. Detent 258 penetrates slot 315 and spring- 261 urges it against the bottom of slot 315.

It will thus be seen that an adjustment may be accomplished by loosening the adjusting bolt 304 with a tool as illustrated in FIG. 9 while the latching mechanism is in its latched but unlocked condition and then moving the adjusting bolt 304 upward or downward until there is no slack between the handle 22 and the lever 264. It should be noted that the optimum gap between the tooth element 270 and detent 258 was established during the fabrication of the latching mechanism itself. This gap is critical because if it is too large there is an unpleasant lost motion and if it is i010 small there may be difliculty in restoring the tooth to its operative position below the detent 258 when the mechanism is moved to its unlocked condition. The tab 314 and spring 316 which urge lever 264 and link 268 in a counterclockwise direction about pivot 266 predetermine the gap between tooth element 270 and detent 258. Thus, even though the adjustment is made as above described by moving the adjusting plate 306 it is only the pivot 266 which is efiectively moved and the lever 264 under the influence of spring 316 rotates about its pivot sufliciently to maintain the bottom of link 268 against tab 314. Since tab 314 and slot 315 are both carried by flange 254 the above gap between tooth element 270 and detent 258 is predetermined regardless of the adjustment of pivot 266.

I claim:

1. In a latch mechanism for a swing'ng door having spaced inner and outer panels connected adjacent the door jamb by an end wall, a supporting structure having a plate portion for mounting on the above mentioned end wall between the door panels, said supporting structure also including a flange extending inwardly from one edge of said plate portion, a latch device pivotally mounted on said plate portion having a plurality of toothlike abutments, detent mechanism pivotally mounted on said plate portion and extending transversely thereof, said detent mechanism being engageable with one of said abutments for holding said latch device in door latching position, and outer manually operable means mounted on said flange for pivotally actuating said detent mech anism thereby to disengage the latter from said latch device, said outer manually operable means including a supplemental plate and releasable means securing said supplemental plate on said flange, said releasable means accommodating adjustment of said supplemental plate in a first direction relative to said flange, said outer manually operable means further including a lever pivotally mounted on said supplemental plate and having a first portion adapted to be connected to handle operated linkage associated with the door, said lever also having a portion movable in the above mentioned first direction in response to pivotal movement of said lever, said outer manually operable means further including a link pivotally carried by the above mentioned portion of said lever for linear motion in said first direction in response to pivotal movement of said lever, said link having a part arranged in opposing relation to a part of said detent mechanism to abut the same upon movement of said link in the above mentioned first direction thereby to pivotally move said detent mechanism out of holding position with respect to said latch device, the adjustment of said supplemental plate relative to said flange being effective to vary the position of the first portion of said lever relative to the door to effectively adjust the latch mechanism relative to handle operated linkage associated with the door.

2. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door having spaced inner and outer panels connected adjacent the door jamb by an end wall, a U-shaped supporting structure having a plate portion forming the bight of the U for mounting on the above mentioned end wall between the door panels, said supporting structure also including inner and outer flanges extending inwardly from opposite edges of said plate portion to form the legs of the U and having inner surfaces facing each other, a latch device pivotally mounted on said plate portion having a plurality of tooth-like abutments, detent mechanism extending between said flanges and pivotally mounted on said plate portion, said detent mechanism being engageable with one of said abutments for holding said latch device in door latching position, outer manually operable means mounted on said outer flange and including an operating member carried by said outer flange and movable relative thereto and a first link pivotally mounted on said operating member and having a part arranged in one position in opposing relation to a part of said detent mechanism to abut the same upon reciprocable movement of said first link thereby to pivotally move said detent mechanism out of holding position with respect to said latch device, the pivotal mounting of said first link relative to said operating member serving to accommodate movement of the aforementioned part of said first link selectively into and out of the above mentioned opposing relation with a part of said detent mechanism to selectively render said first link operative and inoperative to move said detent out of holding position with respect to said latch device, inner manually operable means mounted on said inner flange for pivotally actuating said detent mechanism to disengage the latter from said latch device,

said inner manually operable means having a part arranged in opposing relation to a part of said detent mechanism to abut the same upon movement of said inner manually operable means part thereby to pivotally move said detent mechanism out of holding position with re: spect to said latch device and latch locking means in cluding a locking lever carried by said outer flange, a second link pivotally mounted on said plate portion and extending transversely thereof between said flanges, one portion of said second link being operatively connected to said locking lever for pivotal movement in response to movement of said locking lever, said latch locking means being operative to effect pivotal movement of said first link between its operative and inoperative positions in response to operation of said locking lever and said second link.

3. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door having spaced inner and outer panels connected adjacent the door jamb by an end wall, a supporting structure having a plate portion for mounting on the above mentioned end wall between the door panels, said supporting structure also including a flange extending inwardly from one edge of said plate portion, a latch device pivotally mounted on said plate portion having a plurality of tooth-like abutments, detent mechanism pivotally mounted on said plate portion and extending transversely thereof, said detent mechanism being engageable with one of said ahutments for holding said latch device in door latching position, outer manually operable means mounted on said flange for pivotally actuating said detent mechanism thereby to disengage the latter from said latch device, said outer manually operable means including a supplemental plate and attaching means securing said supplemental plate on said flange, said attaching means accommodating adjustment of said supplemental plate in a first direction rela tive to said flange, said outer manually operable means further including a lever pivotally mounted on said supplemental plate and having a first portion adapted to be connected to handle operated linkage associated with the door, said lever also having a portion movable in the above mentioned first direction in response to pivotal movement of said lever, said outer manually operable means further including a link pivotally carried by the last mentioned portion of said lever for linear motion in said first direction in response to pivotal movement of said lever, said link having a part arranged in opposing relation to a part of said detent mechanism to abut the same upon movement of said link in the above mentioned first direction thereby to pivotally move said detent mechanism out of holding position with respect to said latch device, a spring connected to said lever and urging said lever in a direction opposite to the above mentioned first direction to normally urge said link away from said detent mechanism and stop means carried by said supporting structure and operable to limit the motion of said lever and said link under the influence of said spring means, the adjustment of said supplemental plate relative to said flange being effective to vary the position of the first portion of said lever relative to the door to effectively adjust the latch mechanism relative to handle operated linkage associated with the door and said stop means and spring assuring that adjustment of said supplemental plate relative to said outer flange will not alter the relative positions of the opposing parts on said link and said detent mechanism.

4. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door having spaced inner and outer panels connected adjacent the door jamb by an end wall, a supporting structure having a plate portion for mounting on the above mentioned end wall between the door panels, said supporting structure also including a flange extending inwardly from one edge of said plate portion, a latch device pivotally mounted on said plate portion having a plurality of tooth-like abutments, detent mechanism pivotally mounted on said plate portion and extending transversely thereof, said detent mechanism being engageable with one of said abutments for holding said latch device in door latching position, and outer manually operable means mounted on said flange for pivotally actuating said detent mechanism thereby to disengage the latter from said latch device, said outer manually operable means including a supplemental plate and releasable means securing said supplemental plate on said flange, said releasable means being located in a plane parallel with said plate portion thereby to be accessible from the end wall of the door, said releasable means accommodating adjustment of said supplemental plate in a first direction relative to said flange, said outer manually operable means further including linkage pivot ally mounted on said supplemental plate and having a first portion adapted to be connected to handle operated linkage associated with the door, said linkage also having a part arranged in opposing relation to a part of said detent mechanism to abut the same upon pivotal movement of said linkage thereby to pivotally move said detent mechanism out of holding position with respect to said latch device, the adjustment of said supplemental plate relative to said flange being effective to vary the position of the first portion of said lever relative to the door to efiectively adjust the latch mechanism relative to handle operated linkage associated with the door.

5. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door having spaced inner and outer panels connected adjacent the door jamb by an end Wall, a U-shaped supponting structure having a plate portion forming the bight of the U for mounting on the above mentioned end wall between the door panels, said supporting structure also including inner and outer flanges extending inwardly from opposite edges of said plate portion to form the legs of the U and having inner surfaces facing each other, a latch device pivotally mounted on said plate portion having a plurality of toothlike abutments, a detent mechanism extending between said flanges and pivotally mounted on said plate portion, said detent mechanism being engageable with one of said abutments to obstruct movement of said latch device in one direction and said detent mechanism being moved about its pivot in response to movement of said latch device in another direction, outer manually operable means mounted on said outer flange and including an operating member carried by said outer flange and movable relative thereto and a first link pivotally mounted on said operating member and having a part arranged in one position in opposing relation to a part of said detent mechanism to abut the same upon reciprocable movement of said first link thereby to pivotally move said detent mechanism out of holding position with respect to said latch device, the pivotal mounting of said first link relative to said operating member serving to accommodate movement of the aforementioned part of said first link selectively into and out of the above mentioned opposing relation with a part of said detent mechanism to selectively render said first link operative and inoperative to move said detent out of holding position with respect to said latch device, inner manually operable means mounted on said inner flange for pivotally actuating said detent mechanism to disengage the latter from said latch device, said inner manually operable means having a part arranged in opposing relation to a part of said detent mechan'ism to abut the same upon movement of said inner manually operable means part thereby to pivotally move said detent mechanism out of holding position with respect to said latch device and latch locking means including a locking lever carried by said outer flange, a second link pivotally mounted on said plate portion and extending transversely thereof between said flanges, one portion of said second link being operatively connected to said locking lever for pivotal movement in response to movement of said locking lever, said latch locking means further including means providing an operative connection between said locking lever and said first link to efiect pivotal movement of said first link between its operative and inoperative positions in response to operation of said locking lever, said latch locking means further including cooperating parts on said detent mechanism and said second link operable to pivot said second link to restore said first link to its operative position in response to movement of said detent mechanism when said latch device is moved in its above mentioned other direction.

6. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door having spaced inner and outer panels connected adjacent the door jamb by an end wall, a U-shaped support having a plate portion forming the bight of the U for mounting on the above mentioned end wall between the door panels, said support also including inner and outer flanges extending inwardly from opposite edges of said plate portion to form the legs of the U, a latch device pivotally mounted on said plate portion having a plurality of tooth-like abut-- ments, a detent mechanism extending between said flanges and pivotally mounted on said plate portion, said detent mechanism being engageable with one of said abutments. to obstruct movement of said latch device in one direction and said detent mechanism being moved about its pivot in response to movement of said latch device in another direction, outer manually operable means mounted on said outer flange and including an operating member carried by said outer flange and movable relative thereto and a first link structure pivotally mounted on said operating member and having a part arranged in one position in opposing relation to a part of said detent mechanism to abut the same upon linear movement of said link structure to an unlatching position thereby to pivotally move said detent mechanism out of holding position with respect to said latch device, the pivotal mounting of said first link structure relative to said operating member serving to accommodate movement of the aforementioned part of said first link structure selectively into and out of the above mentioned opposing relation with a part of said detent mechanism to selectively render said first link structure operative and inoperative to move said detent out of holding position with respect to said latch device, inner manually operable means mounted on said inner flange for pivotally actuating said detent mechanism to disengage the latter from said latch device, said inner manually operable means having a part arranged in opposing relation to a part of said detent mechanism to abut the same upon movement of said inner manually operable means part thereby to pivotally move said detent mechanism out of holding position with respect to said latch device and latch locking structure including a locking lever carried by said outer flange, a second link pivotally mounted on said plate portion and extending transversely thereof between said flanges, one portion of said second link being operatively connected to said locking lever for pivotal movement in response to movement of said locking lever, said latch locking means further including means providing an operative connection between said locking lever and said first link structure to efiect pivotal movement of said first link structure between its operative and inoperative positions in response to operation of said locking lever, said latch locking structure further including cooperating parts on said detent mech anism and said second link operable to pivot said second link to restore said first link structure to its operative position in response to movement of said detent mechanism when said latch device is moved in its above mentioned other direction, one of the aforementioned structures being provided With yieldable means to accommodate such pivoting of said second link even when said operating member and first link structure are positioned in their unlatched position While said first link structure is in its aforementioned inoperative position.

7. In a latch mechanism for a door, a supporting structure, a latch device pivotally mounted on said supporting structure and having a plurality of tooth-like abutments, detent mechanism movably mounted on said supporting structure and engageable with one of said abutments for holding said latch device in door latching position, and manually operable means mounted on said supporting structure for actuating said detent mechanism thereby to disengage the latter from said latch device, said manually operable means including a supplemental plate and releasable means securing said supplemental plate on said supporting structure, said releasable means accommdat ing adjustment of said supplemental plate in a first direction relative to said supporting structure, said manually operable means further including; a lever pivotally mounted on said supplemental plate and having a first portion adapted to be connected to handle operated linkage associated with the door, said lever also having a portion movable in the above mentioned first direction in response to pivotal movement of said lever, said manually operable means further including a link pivotally carried by the above mentioned portion of said lever for linear motion in said first direction in response to pivotal movement of said lever, said link having a part arranged in opposing relation to a part of said detent mechanism to abut the same upon movement of said link in the above mentioned first direction thereby to move said detent mechanism out of holding position with respect to said latch device, the adjustment of said supplemental plate relative to said supporting structure being effective to vary the position of the first portion of said lever relative to the door to effectively adjust the latch mechanism relative to handle operable linkage associated with the door.

8. In a latch mechanism for a door, a supporting structure, a latch device pivotally mounted on said plate portion having a plurality of tooth-like abutments, detent mechanism movably mounted on said supporting structure and engageable with one of said abutments for holding said latch device in door latching position, manually operable means for pivotally actuating said detent mechanism thereby to disengage the latter from said latch device, said manually operable means including a supplemental plate and attaching means securing said supplemental plate on said supporting structure, said attaching means accommodating adjustment of said supplemental plate in a first direction relative to said supporting structure, said manually operable means further including a lever pivctally mounted on said supplemental plate and having a first portion adapted to be connected to handle operated linkage associated with the door, said lever also having a portion movable in the above mentioned first direction in response to pivotal movement of said lever, said manually operable means further including a link pivc-tally carried by the above mentioned portion of said lever for linear motion in said first direction in response to pivotal movement of said lever, said link having a part arranged in opposing relation to a part of said detent mechanism to abut the same upon movement of said link in the above mentioned first direction thereby to move said detent mechanism out of holding position with respect to said latch device, a spring connected to said lever and urging said lever in a direction opposite to the above mentioned first direction to normally urge said link away from said detent mechanism and stop means carried by said supporting structure and operable to limit the motion of said lever and said link under the influence of said spring means, the adjustment of said supplemental plate relative to said supporting structure being effective to vary the position of the first portion of said lever relative to the door to eflectively adjust the latch mechanism relative to handle operated linkage associated with the door and said stop means and spring assuring that adjustment of said supplemental plate relative to said supporting structure will not alter the relative positions of the opposing parts on said link and said detent mechanism.

9. 'In a latch mechanism for a swinging door having spaced inner and outer panels connected adjacent the door jamb by an end wall, a supporting structure having a plate portion for mounting on the above mentioned end Wall between the door panels, said supporting structure also including a flange extending inwardly from one edge of said plate portion, a latch device pivotally mounted on said plate portion having a plurality of tooth-like abutments, detent mechanism movably mounted on said plate portion and engageable with one of said abutments for holding said latch device in door latching position, and manually operable means mounted on said flange for pivotally actuating said detent mechanism thereby to disengage the latter from said latch device, said manually operable means including a supplemental plate and releasable means securing said supplemental plate on said flange, said releasable means being located in a plane parallel with said plate portion thereby to be accessible from the end Wall of the door, said releasable means accommodating adjustment of said supplemental plate in a first direction relative to said flange, said outer manually, operable means further including linkage pivotally mounted on said supplemental plate and having a first portion adapted to be connected to handle operated linkage associated with the door, said linkage also having a part arranged in opposing relation to a part of said detent mechanism to abut the same upon pivotal movement of said linkage thereby to pivotally move said detent mechanism out of holding position with respect to said latch device, the adjustment of said supplemental plate relative to said flange being eflective to vary the position of the first portion of said lever relative to the door to efiectively adjust the latch mechanism relative to handle operated linkage associated with the door.

10. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a supporting structure having a plate portion and a flange extending inwardly from an edge of said plate portion, a latch device pivotally mounted on said plate portion having a plurality of tooth-like abutments, a detent mechanism pivotally mounted on said plate portion, said detent mechanism being engageable with one of said abutments to obstruct movement of said latch device in one direction and said detent mechanism being moved about its pivot in response to movement of said latch device in another direction, manually operable means mounted on said flange and including an operating member carried by said flange and movable relative thereto and a first link pivotally mounted on said operating member and having a part arranged in one position in opposing relation to a part of said detent mechanism to abut the same upon reciprocable movement of said first link thereby to pivotally move said detent mechanism out of holding position with respect to said latch device, the pivotal mounting of said first link relative to said operating member serving to accommodate movement of the aforementioned part of said first link selectively into and out of the above mentioned opposing relation with a part of said detent mechanism to selectively render said first link operative and inoperative to move said detent out of holding position with respect to said latch device, and latch locking means including a locking lever carried by said flange, a second link pivotally mounted on said plate portion and having one portion operatively connected to said locking lever for pivotal movement in response to movement of said locking lever, said latch locking means further including means providing an operative connection between said locking lever and said first link to effect pivotal movement of said first link between its operative and inoperative positions in response to operation of said locking lever, said latch locking means further including means oper-, able to pivot said second link to restore said first link to its operative position in response to movement of said detent mechanism when said latch device is moved in its above mentioned other direction.

11. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having a plate portion, said support also including a flange extending inwardly from an edge of said plate portion, a latch device pivotally mounted on said plate portion and having a plurality of tooth-like abutments, a

detent mechanism pivotally mounted on said plate portion and engageable with one of said abutments to obstruct movement of said latch device in one direction and said detent mechanism being moved about its pivot in response to movement of said latch device in another direction, manually operable means mounted on said flange and including an operating member carried by said flange and movable relative thereto and a first link structure pivotally mounted on said operating member and having a tooth arranged in one position in opposing relation to a part of said detent mechanism to abut the same upon linear movement of said link structure to an unlatching position thereby to pivotally move said detent mechanism out of holding position with respect to said latch device, the pivotal mounting of said first link structure relative to said operating member serving to accommodate movement of the aforementioned tooth selectively into and out of the above mentioned opposing relation with a part of said detent mechanism to selectively render said first link structure operative and inoperative to move said detent out of holding position with respect to said latch device, and latch locking structure including a locking lever carried by said flange, a second link pivotally mounted on said plate portion and having one portion operatively connected to said locking lever for pivotal movement in response to movement of said locking lever, said latch locking means further including means providing an operative connection between said locking lever and said first link structure to effect pivotal movement of said first link structure between its operative and inoperative positions in response to operation of said locking lever, said latch locking structure further including means operable to pivot said second link to restore said first link structure to its operative position in response to movement of said detent mechanism when said latch device is moved in its above mentioned other direction, one of the aforementioned structures being provided with yieldable means to accommodate such pivoting of said second link even when said operating member and first link structure are positioned in their unlatched position while said first link structure is in its aforementioned inoperative position.

12. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having a plate portion, said support also including a flange extending inwardly from an edge of said plate portion, a latch device pivotally mounted on said plate portion and having a plurality of tooth-like abutments, a detent mechanism pivotally mounted on said plate portion and engageable with one of said abutments to obstruct movement of said latch device in one direction and said detent mechanism being moved about its pivot in response to movement of said latch device in another direction, manually operable means mounted on said flange and including an operating member carried by said flange and movable relative thereto and a first link structure pivotally mounted on said operating member and having a tooth arranged in one position in opposing relation to a part of said detent mechanism to abut the same upon linear movement of said link structure to an unlatching position thereby to pivotally move said do tent mechanism out of holding position with respect to said latch device, the pivotal mounting of said first link structure relative to said operating member serving to accommodate movement of the aforementioned tooth selectively into and out of the above mentioned opposing relation with a part of said detent mechanism to selectively render said first link structure operative and inoperative to move said detent out of holding position with respect to said latch device, and latch locking structure including a locking lever carried by said flange, a second link pivotally mounted on said plate portion and having one portion operatively connected to said locking lever for pivotal movement in response to movement of said locking lever, said latch locking means further including means providing an operative connection between said locking lever and said first link structure to efiect pivotal movement of said first link structure between its operative and inoperative positions in response to operation of said locking lever, said latch locking structure further including means operable to pivot said second link to restore said first link structure to its operative position in response to movement of said detent mechanism when said latch device is moved in its above mentioned other direction, the aforementioned tooth of said first link structure being mounted for movement relative to the rest of said first link structure to an extended position and to a retracted position, resilient means urging the aforementioned tooth to its extended position and operable to yieldably accommodate the aforementioned pivoting of said second link even when said operating member and first link structure are positioned in their unlatched position while said first link structure is in its aforementioned inoperative position.

13. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door having spaced inner and outer panels connected adjacent the door jamb by an end wall, a supporting structure having a plate portion for mounting on the above mentioned end wall between the door panels, a latch device pivotally mounted on said supporting structure having a plurality of tooth-like abutments, detent mechanism pivotally mounted on said supporting structure, said detent mechanism being engageable with one of said abutments for holding said latch device in door iatching position, and outer manually operable means mounted on said supporting structure for pivotally actuating said detent mechanism thereby to disengage the latter from said latch device, said outer manually operable means including a supplemental plate and releasable means securing said supplemental plate on said supporting structure, said releasable means accommodating adjustment of said supplemental plate in a first direction relative to said supporting structure, said outer manually operable means further including a lever pivotally mounted on said supplemental plate and having a first portion adapted to be connected to handle operated linkage associated with the door, said lever also having a portion movable in the above mentioned first direction in response to pivotal movement of said lever to effect disengagement of said detent mechanism from said latch device, the adjustment of said supplemental plate relative to said supporting structure being effective to vary the position of the first portion of said lever relative to the door to effectively adjust the latch mechanism relative to handle operated linkage associated with the door.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,624,606 Dingman et a1. Jan. 6, 1953 2,629,618 Roethel Feb. 24, 1953 2,796,275 Roethel June 18, 1957 2,864,639 Cockburn et a1. Dec. 16, 1958 

